Establishing Paternity in the State of California

In California, establishing paternity means determining who is the legal and biological father of a child. This can be determined in one of two ways – by the parents of the child, or by the court. In the state, both biological parents have a legal responsibility to support their child and legal fathers have a right to seek a relationship with their child. Once paternity can be legally established, child custody and visitation orders can be made. If you are seeking to establish paternity, obtain the support of an established family law attorney. With many years of combined legal experience, the attorneys at the Knez Law Group, LLP can answer your questions and help you navigate the complex legal process of establishing paternity.

The Knez Law Group, LLP can help you resolve your paternity case. In order to guide you to the best possible resolution for your case, consider obtaining the support of the established attorneys at the Knez Law Group, LLP. Consider contacting the law firm today to schedule a no-cost consultation.

Reasons to Establish Paternity

There are obvious reasons for establishing paternity, such as providing financial support and child custody, so that the minor can have a relationship with both parents. Aside from these reasons, there are also additional advantages for establishing the paternity of a minor, which may not always be immediately apparent, such as:

• Having legal documentation that identifies both parents,
• Having the names of the parents on the birth certificate,
• Accessibility to the family’s medical records,
• Life and health insurance from the parents,
• The right to receive an inheritance from the parents,
• The right to receive veterans and social security benefits, when available, and
• The father’s ability to sign documents for his children, such as permission slips and releases.

How Paternity Can Be Established in California

If the parents were married before the birth of their baby, California courts will assume that the husband is the father of the minor unless the paternity is contested within the child’s first 2 years. Whenever the couple is married, the courts will assume children born during this time are the husband’s children.

It is important to note that there are cases in which the courts have favored stable marriages over the rights of a biological father. If a man fathered a child with a woman who was married to somebody else, the man risks not being a part of the minor’s life.

Paternity becomes complicated when the couple was not married at the time of the child’s birth. However, if the man was residing with the child and had demonstrated commitment and responsible actions, the man would also be assumed to be the child’s father by the courts.

Regardless of the parents’ marital state and their living situation, the father may seek a paternity test in order to avoid future dilemmas.

Obtain the Support of a Knowledgeable Family Law Attorney

The process for establishing paternity in the State of California is complex, however, it is possible to eliminate much of the hassle by getting in contact with an experienced and knowledgeable family law attorney. Obtain experienced support to ensure your rights and interests are protected.

The Knez Law Group, LLP has many years of dedicated experience handling a variety of family law cases, including establishing paternity, child custody, and child support cases. In order to resolve your paternity case, consider obtaining the support of the Knez Law Group, LLP by calling (951) 742-7681 or completing the contact form found here.